Prince Charlie question..

[Casey_in_Carolina]

Is it just me, or do the buttons on a Prince Charlie jacket look odd? Perhaps I've not seen a truly well-made PC, and admittedly, I've never seen one in person, only photos, but they always look odd to me. The big, square buttons going up the sleeve always seem to look a little on the crude side. Almost like someone had a nice jacket, and thought it didn't look 'dressy' enough, so added some shiny jewelry to it.

Am I looking at it wrong, or have I just not seen a well made PC?

Casey

[JerseyLawyer]

I think that's a highly personal determination. Either you like the look of a Prince Charlie, or you don't. Much like a tuxedo, a good PC, paired with the right accessories, and properly fitting, looks fantastic. By properly fitting, I mean that it's the right length, and the sleeves aren't too long, etc. Given the cut of the PC, these things are very important. An ill-fitting one looks... well, ill-fitting. And, of course, let's face it, not everybody wears clothes well. You don't want to be self-conscious in your jacket, such that you look like a teen waiting to pick up his date on prom night.

Though, yes, the buttons are supposed to be there.

There are many people here who have PCs in which they cut quite the dashing picture. Take a look at the formal pics thread, for example. Maybe that'll change your opinion, or give you a fuller idea of what's out there.

As a disclaimer, I admit that I'm not a big fan of the PC myself, except when I see someone who looks good in one and get jealous.

[McELT]

When I see a well-made PC that is fit properly, I'm awed by how well the jacket hangs and how beautifully symmetrical the buttons are. The buttons on the sleeve just add to the symmetry.

[BEEDEE]

For the PC that I made by converting from a tail coat, I used smaller buttons on the sleeve and the back flaps. I think the large buttons detract somewhat from the overall appearance.



Brian

[Carolina Kiltman]

If you judge a PC (or Braemar) from the rather understated evening wear we are used to, then it does look over-done and rather gaudy. However, when you add the flamboyance of a Kilt, then, to my eyes, it changes everything. It is needed to balance the kilt, diced/or tartan hose, etc. Just my take on it.

[Highlander31]

IMHO, a properly fitted PC is a perfect compliment to the kilt.

It is my understanding the silver buttons hark back to the days when a soldier had silver buttons on his jacket in order to have payment for his burial in the event he should die in battle.

[ThistleDown]

Is it just me, or do the buttons on a Prince Charlie jacket look odd? Perhaps I've not seen a truly well-made PC, and admittedly, I've never seen one in person, only photos, but they always look odd to me. The big, square buttons going up the sleeve always seem to look a little on the crude side. Almost like someone had a nice jacket, and thought it didn't look 'dressy' enough, so added some shiny jewelry to it.

Since you have not seen a PC in real life, Casey, you may not have seen the "flap" or fold-over on the sleeve. If not, then sure enough the buttons look randomly placed. Perhaps the following pic of a white PC will give you a better idea of the reason why they are there.

[Phil]

It is a cultural thing, Casey, and perhaps looks odd when you are not used to it. As Highlander31 says, many Scots travelled abroad centuries ago and fought as mercenaries. There are still Scots descendants living in France and other parts of Europe. Edvard Greig the composer was of Scottish descent and Catherine the Great of Russia employed another, Samuel Greig as an admiral in her navy. But perhaps the best known were the gallowglasses who sold their services to the Irish chieftans. The Scots word "gallus" is supposed to derive from them and means, wicked, bold, a swaggering young man. Before the days of banks and ATM's on every street corner they carried a store of wealth on their bodies in the form of silver buttons to be used in emergency, usually of the terminal kind such as a decent burial - an important consideration in those more religious times when thoughts of the judgement day to come made it imperative to be properly interred and not have your bones scattered about the place. The fate of unfortunates such as William Wallace whose corpses were quartered and sent to separate places meant they could never be resurrected and was the most heinous ignominy as a result. So you see there is a reason for those large shiny buttons, although they are often not of silver nowadays.

[Carolina Kiltman]

While I have no "proof" of this, but human nature, being what it is, the silver buttons could also be just another way of saying "I got mine". Most likely there is some truth in all these reasons.

Anyone have ideas why the buttons are square rather than round, like most coins?

[JSFMACLJR]

Anyone have ideas why the buttons are square rather than round, like most coins?

There is no need for them to be square. My buttons are round and show my crest:



Sandford